Kodasema Launches Four Tiny Prefab Homes—Including One That Floats
The Estonian prefab company is bringing stylish, modern tiny homes to urban and rural areas alike.
Kodasema is an architecture and engineering company that creates innovative living and housing solutions. Named KODA after the Estonian word for a local, traditional hut dating back to the third millennium BC, the line of tiny homes encapsulates "minimalist luxury in a spaciously sustainable house."
The classic KODA Concrete is essentially a cube with concrete panels on three sides, a glazed front, and a flat roof.
Photo by Tõnu Tunnel
KODA homes can be transported to a site and then set up within a few days or less.
Photo Mairi Hüüdma
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The company hopes that its prefabricated homes will solve issues of high housing costs and unused urban spaces in many Western cities. Their homes are small in size but big on design, with lofted living areas and sleek wood finishes.
If site work and connections are complete, KODA homes can be installed in as little as a day. KODA units can also be installed in multiples to create tiny house villages.
Photo by Frank Saunanen
Kodasema, which is based outside of Tallinn in Harkujärve, Estonia, now offers four different models: the Koda Concrete, the Koda Light, the Koda Light Extended, and the Koda Light Float. These homes can be combined, used as main residences or accessory dwellings, or even laid out like a village, as seen at their KODA Village. Read on for a look at each of KODA's prefab homes.
Regardless of the model, each KODA home has a similar exterior with a small front porch and a concrete canopy that shades a portion of the home's glass facade. The canopy also acts as a light shelf to bounce daylight into the upper area of the building.
Photo by Annika Haas
The KODA Concrete is Kodasema's classic model, with 282 square feet of space and concrete exterior panels.
Photo Paul Kuimet
The flagship KODA covers 282 square feet and features an open living room, a full-size lofted sleeping area with a bathroom tucked underneath, a kitchenette, and a terrace shaded by a concrete canopy. Three exterior walls are constructed out of thin composite concrete panels, while the forth wall is made of quadruple-pane glazing. The KODA Concrete is specifically designed to soak up natural light, keep out external noise, and promote healthy living.
The typical plan for a KODA Concrete home features a lofted sleeping area with a mechanical space, closet, and bathroom below.
Courtesy of Kodasema
The interiors are outfitted with wood and other non-toxic materials, filters to catch airborne dust and allergens, and LED lighting with adjustable tone and brightness. Each home also includes a ventilation system with a heat exchanger for up to 95 percent heat recovery of exhaust air, and a keyless door system.
When set up as a rental unit, a KODA Concrete can accommodate two guests in the sleeping area and another two on a convertible sofa in the living area.
Photo Oliver Moosus
The KODA Light's exterior is typically clad in wood, although there are different siding options that distinguish it from the original KODA's concrete panels.
Photo by Getter Kuusmaa
The KODA Light draws upon the thoughtful layout and general form of the KODA Concrete; however, it’s clad in different materials that make it much lighter—and therefore more mobile. The Koda Light has high ceilings, a lofted bedroom with a bathroom underneath, and an open kitchenette. Its structure is made of steel-reinforced timber and its exterior can be finished with wood, steel, or composite paneling.
The KODA Light features a similar layout to the KODA Concrete, with a lofted sleeping area and a bathroom underneath. However, the kitchenette is slightly larger and L-shaped, and there is also a wraparound table and seating area around part of the bathroom.
Courtesy of Kodasema
Kodasema offers a range of interior finishes for the KODA Light, and the home has two punched windows that bring in even more natural light. A second unit can be installed on the home's roof, or the space can be set up as a rooftop garden with ladder access.
The KODA Light features punched windows in strategic locations (like over the kitchen sink), bringing in even more light.
Photo by Getter Kuusmaa
This KODA Light Extended home evokes a Scandinavian sensibility with lots of white and wood finishes.
Photo by Tõnu Tunnel
The KODA Light Extended takes advantage of the timber structure of the KODA Light and enlarges the design to include an extra room at the back of the house. Wood cladding and light-colored finishes bring a Nordic feel to the interior and exterior, and the larger size allows for more privacy, storage, and a completely separate sleeping area. This frees up the mezzanine for use as a guest room, office, kid’s room, or additional storage.
The enlarged floor plan of the KODA Light Extended allows for a wider variety of use. The home has a slightly larger kitchen area and a completely private back room that can be used as a bedroom or office.
Courtesy of Kodasema
The home's flexible layout can provide two separate office spaces (think a waiting room and office for lawyers, hairdressers, etc), and there’s also the possibility to install an extra door or terrace off the back of the house.
The back room of the KODA Light Extended works well as a bedroom or a separate office.
Photo by Tõnu Tunnel
The KODA Light Float is set on floating pontoons, opening up even more possibilities in terms of locations.
Photo by Daniel Mets
Want to live the life aquatic? There's even a KODA that floats on water! The company envisions the KODA Light Float sited on a favorite harbor, lake, or even an urban canal. The floating home could function as an artist’s studio, a home, a harbor cafe, a retreat, or even a fisherman’s cabin.
The KODA Light Float isn't mobile by itself, but it could be transported by another boat to a different location on the same body of water.
Photo by Riku Kylä
Like other KODA models, finishes and cladding can be selected from a variety of options—including timber, zinc, or composite exteriors in a range of colors.
Unfortunately, KODA homes are not currently available in North America, as Kodasema is still searching for distributors, but they're currently open to discussions with potential partners.
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